Bulova 1965 Date King

Submitted by Reverend Rob on January 12, 2019 - 2:31pm
LL
Manufacture Year
1965
Movement Model
11ALACD
Movement Jewels
17
Movement Serial No.
-
Case Serial No.
H677281
Case shape
Round
Case color
Yellow
Case Manufacturer
Bulova
Gender
Mens
Watch Description

I think what we have here is a Date King. The watch has clearly never been opened, there isn't a mark anywhere on the inside or even in the locking ring. When I opened the back, the gasket was well stuck to it, and I had to carefully separate the back from it.  This always worries me somewhat, as it means the watch has never been serviced at all.  As received it is clearly suffering from being totally dried out, amplitude is low and even winding it is difficult. Hopefully there hasn't been too much damage from being run. It is possible the watch was put away soon after it being recieved, that would be the ideal situation. 

Anyway, it was so sticky the reason it was brought in was the crown unscrewed because of the extra tension in the dried out cannon pinion, having only recently been purchased from an estate. The leather band is a recent replacement and not original. The pics really don't do this justice, it really is a handsome piece.  The inside case back bears a reference number in ink: 2523

1965 Bulova watch
1965 Bulova watch
1965 Bulova watch
1965 Bulova watch
Andersok
Posted January 12, 2019 - 3:03pm

For 1965 I would agree with you that this one is the Date King, 1967 ad shows this one a possible match to the 'LL' variant. Looks untouched.

Is the marker at 12 on your dial angled like the ad?

 

Reverend Rob
Posted January 12, 2019 - 9:20pm

Hard to tell from the pics, but the indices are stepped vertically. I thought it looked like the 'TT' but the two adverts are almost identical except for the bracelet:

The lugs are illustrated as different also, more 'crablike' in the 'LL'. I'd say based on this it is a Date King 'LL'

mybulova_admin
Posted January 12, 2019 - 7:06pm

Lugs between the two adverts also look a bit different, but may just be the rendering. The 'TT' variant does mention white gold version.

The subject watch lugs look to match that of the the "LL" variant.

1965 Bulova Date King "LL"

 

Geoff Baker
Posted January 13, 2019 - 7:27am

That's a fine looking watch Rob, I cant' see that it got much wrist time.

1965 Bulova Date King LL

jabs
Posted January 13, 2019 - 10:48am

1965 Bulova Date King "LL"

Kathy L.
Posted January 13, 2019 - 11:10am

A very nice watch indeed.

1965 Bulova Date King "LL"

neetstuf-4-u
Posted January 14, 2019 - 6:55pm

1965 Bulova Date King "LL" works for me.